wedrifid comments on Semi-open thread: blackmail - Less Wrong
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Comments (31)
Yes.
No. Assuming that protecting the cave is free (because someone else wants to come and do it) the diverting of the river is not itself blackmail. Subsequent blackmail is still blackmail. It becomes close to blackmail if the cost to repair the cave is greater than the value of the river diversion. Depending on the various value instantiations possible this example does a good job of exemplifying the 'blackmail vs gains to trade' blurry boundary.
No, assuming the right values for various outcomes this is exactly what "split the gains from trade equally" looks like. The inconvenience for keeping the secret is divided evenly. Another excellent example because to most humans this will feel like extortion and if the numbers are tweaked a little it could be extortion by my standards too.